Janet Daley was born in America where she began her political life on the Left as an undergraduate at Berkeley. She moved to Britain (and to the Right) in 1965 where she spent nearly twenty years in academic life before becoming a political commentator: all factors that inform her writing on British and American policy and politicians.

Bill Clinton says the required words

So Bill has uttered the necessary words at last: "Barack Obama is ready to be president". The only trouble is that he has been saying - almost explicitly – the exact opposite as recently as a few days ago. He had a memorable riff earlier this week comparing a hypothetical candidate with whom a voter agreed "on all the issues" but who seemed unlikely to be able to achieve his objectives, with another candidate who, while one might only agree with "half" of his opinions, appeared able to deliver on his promises. Given that choice, he implied, who were you likely to opt for? Now, who do you suppose he had in mind there?

Bill Clinton: In the limelight at the Democratic convention

But never mind – he has said it. Very slowly and deliberately so nobody would miss it - thereby underlining the fact that there has been a question in everybody's minds about Obama's readiness to, as Bill put it, fulfil the oath of office. By offering the statement as a form of incantation, he also underlined the notion that he – Bill Clinton – is competent to make such a judgment by virtue of his experience in office, and that he has the king-making power to bestow a magical transformation, turning a not-ready candidate into one who is ready for the presidency. He and Hillary have pulled it off: on the podium, which is the recorded history, they have done and said nothing that was not proper and helpful to Obama. But in fact they have made it absolutely clear that they are the ones who hold this convention – and this Democratic party – in their hands while seeing to it that, if and when Obama loses, no one can say it was their fault.